"Goh~" Chloe couldn't help but sigh, her expression a mix of helplessness and quiet reproach as she walked alongside Ash and the others. Her best friend was showing off again.
"Haha, Goh, you're really quite the dependable one," Professor Oak chuckled, clearly not finding anything wrong with the boy's behavior. After all, he was just a six-year-old kid. Being outspoken, eager for attention, and desperate for recognition—wasn't that exactly what children this age were like?
"Hehe~" Goh stood tall, hands on his hips, face full of pride after receiving praise from Professor Oak.
But the professor's attention didn't linger on Goh for long. He pointed at a large tree up ahead, where a yellowish-brown Pokémon was hanging off the trunk.
"Anyone know what that Pokémon is?"
"I do! That's Kakuna—the cocoon Pokémon!" Goh blurted out loudly, raising his hand high before any of the other campers could react.
"Correct! Well done, Goh," Professor Oak complimented again with a smile. He then pointed to another Pokémon walking leisurely along the forest path. "How about that one?"
"That's Farfetch'd!" Goh jumped in again, cutting everyone off. "It carries the stalk of a plant and wields it like a sword—it can cut through all sorts of things!"
Once more, Goh was first to answer, snatching the spotlight.
"Wow!! That's amazing!"
"So strong!"
"You even know that?"
"You know so many details!"
The girls in the group were visibly impressed, their eyes lighting up with surprise and admiration. The praise made Goh feel like he was floating. Finally, he had the chance to prove himself.
He knew a lot about Pokémon. He was a good trainer. But just yesterday, he'd drawn the short straw and been assigned a completely useless Magikarp. In the opening challenge of summer camp, he didn't just lose—he lost five times in a row. He was the only camper to do so, finishing dead last and becoming the butt of everyone's jokes.
Now, given a chance to redeem himself in front of Professor Oak and the rest of the group, Goh was naturally eager to seize it.
"That's Diglett! It feeds on tree roots," he continued loudly without waiting for the professor to ask. "And that one over there is its evolved form, Dugtrio! It's incredibly powerful—capable of digging down as deep as 100 kilometers underground!"
But just as Goh was about to bask in another round of admiration, Chloe quietly stepped out from the group and walked up beside him.
"Goh," she whispered, tugging at his shirt, "it's Professor Oak's job to explain the Pokémon, remember…?"
Although she'd lowered her voice, it wasn't low enough. The professor and the other campers clearly overheard.
"Haha, Goh, you really do know your Pokémon facts," Professor Oak said with a chuckle, defusing the tension.
"Like Goh said, Pokémon can evolve. Although the conditions vary, most Pokémon will change appearance after evolution."
"But Professor," Goh interjected again, unable to help himself, "Farfetch'd doesn't evolve, right?"
"Uh… well… yes," Professor Oak paused awkwardly, clearly caught off-guard by the correction.
Gary's expression instantly darkened.
He hadn't said anything earlier out of respect for Chloe, but now Goh was outright correcting his grandfather in front of everyone? That crossed a line.
"Ash—" Gary turned to his friend, visibly annoyed.
Ash immediately understood. Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
"Actually, not all Pokémon can evolve," Ash explained. "Only certain ones can. But there are also regional forms. Farfetch'd is one of them. The Galarian Farfetch'd is a Fighting-type Pokémon, and after enough hard-fought battles, it can evolve into Sirfetch'd."
"Thanks, man!" Gary grinned, having received exactly what he needed.
Turning to Goh, his expression sharp, he spoke with clarity and purpose:
"Not every Pokémon can evolve. That's something we all know."
"And singling out Farfetch'd doesn't make you look smart—it just shows how little you actually know."
"There are regional forms, and the Farfetch'd from the Galar region does evolve. After proving its strength in battle, it can become Sirfetch'd."
"So next time you try to cut someone off, make sure what you're saying isn't so black-and-white. You'll only end up embarrassing yourself."
"And let me remind you," Gary added, voice firm, "Professor Oak is one of the leading Pokémon researchers in the world. He knows far more than you can learn from memorizing a Pokédex. So next time you talk to him, show some respect."
Gary wasn't the type to flaunt the fact that he was Professor Oak's grandson. Even when campers like Gabriel and Henri—who had initially acted snobbish while staying at his home—tried to provoke him, Gary stayed courteous and respectful.
Despite how annoyed he'd been with Goh's antics these past few days, Gary had held back. He didn't want to stir up drama or draw unnecessary attention.
But this?
Goh had not only repeatedly interrupted the professor but even corrected him with misplaced confidence.
Gary had had enough.
He didn't hold back.
And his words hit hard.
Goh, who had moments earlier been basking in applause, now stood frozen—his face red with embarrassment and frustration.
Meanwhile, the other campers weren't upset at Gary at all. In fact, they looked impressed.
"Wait… Farfetch'd can evolve? I didn't know that!"
"What's a regional form?"
"Where's the Galar region?"
"Whoa!! Gary really is Professor Oak's grandson. He's not just polite—he knows so much!"
Ash, Green, and Tierno all exchanged looks and gave Gary a big thumbs-up, grinning from ear to ear.
…
…
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